SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University Athletics Department named juniors Neely Spence and Stephen Schelander as its 2010-11 Student-Athletes of the Year at a banquet from the Martin House on April 20.

Spence is a human communications studies major seeking a minor in coaching who has compiled a 3.84 grade-point average. She is a two-time PSAC Top 10 award winner, a two-time USTFCCCA All-Academic Team member and a 2009-10 ESPN/CoSIDA Third Team Academic All-American.

Athletically, Spence has been selected as a PSAC Athlete of the Year in all eight of her collegiate seasons to date (cross country [3], indoor track [3], outdoor track [2]).

During the indoor track season, Spence was the anchor leg on the distance medley relay squad that won a national championship. Individually, Spence received All-America honors in the 5K with a second-place finish. She won three PSAC championships.

In cross country, Spence was named the 2010 Division II Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Spence, the 2010 USTFCCCA Division II Cross Country Female Athlete of the Year, became the first women's cross country national champion in school history and earned the second All-America award of her career with a time of 20:41.2 at the 2010 Division II National Championships.

Last spring, in outdoor track competition, Spence won an individual national championship in the 5K. Last week, she set the all-time Division II record in the 5K with a time that qualified her to compete this summer at the 2011 United States Track and Field Championships.

Spence is the 2010 NCAA Division II Sportsmanship award winner and represented Shippensburg and Division II at the NCAA Convention earlier this year. She is a Honda Award nominee and was also included on the Bowerman award watch list.

Outside of the classroom and the track, Spence is the organizer of the R.U.N. club, a 12-week after school program with students from Grace B. Luhrs Elementary School that is teaching young children more about track and field as well as educating them to learn healthy life habits.

Schelander is a PSAC scholar athlete in three sports (cross country, indoor track and outdoor track) and a USTFCCCA All-Academic performer majoring in economics. In addition to All-PSAC honors in all three of his sports, Schelander was a 2009-10 ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-District Men's Track & Field/Cross Country Second Team selection.

Athletically, Schelander was Shippensburg's No. 2 runner at the NCAA Atlantic Region Cross Country Championships and NCAA National Cross Country Championships after finishing stride-by-stride with three other teammates as SU's No. 1 runner at the PSAC Cross Country Championships. SU won its first conference title in school history this season.

Individually, Schelander helped the team post a seventh-place team finish after placing 50th at the 2010 NCAA National Championships – he ran the snow-covered 10K course in 31:53, a 69-second improvement from his previous run at the national championships in which he was SU's No. 1 runner in 2009. Schelander finished eighth at the 2010 NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships.

In track competition, Schelander is a 10-time PSAC placewinner and a 5-time All-PSAC award winner. During the indoor season, Schelander finished third in the mile and seventh in the 3K – his time of 4:12 in the mile was an indoor career PR and a NCAA provisional qualifying mark. During the outdoor season, Schelander finished third in the 5K and fourth in the 1,500 meters at the PSAC Championships.

This past summer, Schelander was instrumental in the Thrive Africa program. He spent two months in South Africa volunteering his time and performing a host of duties – including maintenance work and interaction at a center for disabled children. He also taught lessons and spent time with children at a local orphanage, repaired and bound books, and immersed himself in several South African communities performing mission work.

Schelander also served as a guest speaker at James Burd Elementary School where he spoke to the entire student body about the importance of exercise and a healthy lifestyle during their awards assembly for a walking and exercise program.

A third award was handed out Wednesday evening. In recognition of her dedication and continued support of Raider athletics, assistant director of sports medicine Becky Fitz was named the Raider of the Year.

Fitz, who received her master's degree at Shippensburg in 2006, is a valued member of the Shippensburg University family and a steadying beacon of support to the Raider student-athletes and the campus community.


The selection process for the 2010-11 SU Student-Athlete of the Year awards was based on achievements in academics, leadership, sportsmanship, community service, and athletics.

FEMALE STUDENT-ATHLETE NOMINEES

Monica Berardi
Senior
Tennis

Berardi is an elementary education major seeking a minor in early childhood development…competed in 50 singles matches over the course of her Raider playing career…designated as a PSAC Scholar Athlete on multiple occasions…also received ITA Academic honors…contributes to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee…helped coordinate SAAC's fund-raising efforts toward the Make-A-Wish Foundation…member of Kappa Delta Pi honors society.


Kristen Brooks
Senior
Field Hockey

Brooks is an international management and marketing major…PSAC Fall Top 10 award winner…two-time NCAA Elite 88 award winner…2009-10 ESPN/CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-Region At-Large selection…one of three captains that helped the Lady Raiders set a school record for victories in a season and advance to the 2010 NCAA Division II Field Hockey championship game against Massachusetts-Lowell…started all 23 of the team's games…helped limit UML's top forwards to just two shots and no goals in the national championship game... received the 2010-11 Clarence Schock Foundation Fellowship award, which provides tuition for a full year…a leader on a defensive unit that allowed just 20 goals in 23 games this season, including nine shutouts…participated in community service projects through business fraternity and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).

Hope Cornell
Senior
Softball

Cornell is a biology and health sciences major seeking a minor in coaching…co-captain of the 2011 softball team…broke SU's all-time home runs record and continues to re-write the team record books…three-time All-PSAC Eastern Division pick…2010 NFCA All-Atlantic Region second team pick…2010 Daktronics All-Atlantic Region second team pick…NFCA Scholar Athlete… batted .351 at the plate with eight home runs and 25 RBIs as a junior…secretary of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)…2010-11 Gwen Baker Scholar Athlete award winner…coordinated Special Olympics Fun Meet and Kid's Night Out activities among other projects with SAAC…selected as one of 20 U.S. students to work in Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) impact program in Italy this summer.

Jill Edwards
Freshman
Volleyball

Edwards is an education (grades 4-8) major…dean's list student in her debut semester…vocal leader… led the PSAC in total kills as a freshman with 458 – the second-highest, single-season total in SU history…recorded 16 double-doubles…tallied 20 or more kills in five matches…tallied double-digit kills in 29 of 35 matches… ranked second on the team with 339 digs…received All-PSAC Eastern Division First Team and Eastern Division Rookie of the Year honors…two-time PSAC Player of the Week…finished the regular season ranked 39th in Division II in kills per set.

Amy Fisher
Senior
Swimming

Fisher is an elementary education major…multiple dean's list student… member of Kappa Delta Pi (education honors society) and Tau Kappa (athletics sorority)…three-time honorable mention All-American, individually in mile and also with 400 and 800 freestyle relays…finished ninth in mile at nationals…runner-up in 1,000 freestyle and mile at PSAC Championships…broke and maintained school record in mile for two seasons…posted second-fastest times in school history in 500 and 1,000 freestyle…leading contributor to swimming squad that leads PSAC and ranks 13th in Division II with 3.35 team GPA…6-time honorable mention All-American at national championships…7-time championships scoring performer as an individual at PSAC meet.

Kasey Gardner
Senior
Basketball

Gardner is a criminal justice major seeking a minor in coaching…honored with selection to Daktronics All-Atlantic Region Second Team Squad…named to the All-PSAC Eastern Division First Team squad for the third time in her career…just the third women's basketball player in the last 10 years earn All-PSAC honors on three or more occasions…finished the season among the league leaders in numerous categories…entered postseason ranked second in the PSAC in scoring with 18.3 points per game…finished her career with 1,745 points in 111 games…point total ranks sixth in school history and 26th in PSAC history…scored 20 or more points in a game 34 times, including 11 career double-doubles, and had 10 or more points in 98 of her 111 career games…ranked fourth in school history with 679 career boards…concluded her collegiate career ranked fifth in SU history for career three-pointers (186), ninth in career steals (183) and 11th in career assists (295)… 2010-11 recipient of the Gwen Baker MVP and Basketball Scholarship…2010-2011 recipient of Dick and Jeanne Eschenmann Hustle Award and Scholarship…helped organize free-throw competition that raised funds for the Four Diamonds Pediatric Cancer Group and WBCA Pink Zone…also helped run free basketball clinic for Yellow Breeches Education Center.

Anna Kinard
Senior
Swimming

Kinard is an elementary education major…multiple Dean's list honors…member of Kappa Delta Pi (education honors fraternity)…president of Shippensburg University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for two years…co-chair of the PSAC SAAC…student teaching at Ben Chambers Elementary School…incredible leader for swim team and fellow student-athletes…instrumental in numerous community service initiatives through SAAC, Tau Kappa and Kappa Delta Pi including Special Olympics Fun Meet, MentorSHIP program, Pennies for Puppies, Kids Night Out, Project Prom Dress and Project Share…participated at US Science and Engineering Fair in Washington, D.C…qualified for PSAC Championships in several events over multiple seasons… achieved lifetime best performances in 50 and 100 freestyle along with 100 and 200 backstroke.

MALE STUDENT-ATHLETE NOMINEES

Riley Bowen
Senior
Football

Bowen is majoring in secondary education with a focus on mathematics…dean's list recipient…honored with John Hubley award for academic achievement by the football team…2010-11 CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-District Football Second Team award winner…instrumental with the tutoring program through the football team that assists at local elementary schools…assists with SAAC's MentorSHIP program…worked youth football camps at Shippensburg…swam in Special Olympics Fun Meet…active with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)…two-year captain of the football team…received Kevin Mylett award as the football team's most outstanding defensive player…led the team in tackles and tackles for loss as a senior…recipient of the Zachary Topper Memorial Football Scholarship presented to a student athlete who demonstrates leadership, good character, and citizenship…never missed a game in his career, having suited up for all 43 of the team's contests since the start of the 2007 season…made 138 solo tackles and 78 assisted tackles for a combined total of 215 in his career.

Tim Smullen
Senior
Swimming

Smullen is an social studies major seeking a minor in geography…member of Phi Alpha Theta (history honor society)…multiple dean's list recipient…active member of Shippensburg's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)…participated in Kids Night Out and MentorSHIP program…stepped up as a senior to compete in non-traditional events due to team need at conference championships…conference finalist in the 200, 500 and 1,000-yard freestyles…ranked in the all-time Top 10 in the 100 freestyle…took fourth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:44.77), seventh in the 500-yard freestyle (4:45.72) and seventh in the 1,000-yard freestyle (9:53.48) at PSAC Championships during senior season.